Volume indicators: Enhance your technical analysis & trading strategies.

Trading volume is a fundamental concept in financial markets, representing the total number of shares or contracts traded for a security or an entire market during a given period. It provides crucial insights into the liquidity and activity of an asset, essentially acting as a barometer of market interest. A higher trading volume generally indicates greater participation and stronger conviction behind price movements, while lower volume might suggest less interest or uncertainty among traders. Understanding how volume interacts with price is essential for technical analysis, as it can help confirm trends, signal potential reversals, and identify significant support and resistance levels.

It's important to remember that no single tool or indicator should be used in isolation when trading. Traders should always consider incorporating various types of indicators into their strategies. Combining volume indicators with other types of analysis can offer a different perspective on the market.

Many volume indicators are available on almost every trading platform, each based on a unique formula and the creator's specific idea. Many of these indicators extend beyond simply counting the number of traded contracts; some incorporate additional inputs, such as time frame or price direction. A crucial aspect for traders is to thoroughly understand the indicators they use, including their basics, parameters, and the type and source of data employed.

Traders may face challenges when applying volume indicators in certain markets, such as the foreign exchange market (Forex), which is an over-the-counter (OTC) product. This means it's impossible to account for the real volume of currency transactions within a given time frame. Other markets, like the Futures Market, present different challenges. For example, the nearest expiration contract typically has the highest volume; however, its volume calculations don't consider other future contracts with later expiration dates.

Over the years, traders have developed indicators to overcome some of these challenges and gain more insight into an instrument's trading volume.

In Forex trading, since it is an Over-the-Counter (OTC) product and not traded on an exchange, there is no actual volume indicator that measures the real volume being traded. Instead, Forex volume indicators measure the volume of ticks. Tick volume, which reflects how rapidly the price is moving, can be interpreted by technical analysts as an indication of more market participants when the price is trending. If the price makes more ticks (up and down around price levels) than usual, the tick volume indicator will reflect this, especially during periods of higher volatility.

For example, in a downtrend, rising tick volume can support the downward move. Conversely, if tick volume declines and breaks below its average, it could precede a price breakout and a new uptrend.

The chart above illustrates the relationship between price action and tick volume. As price action moves higher within an uptrend (marked by the blue line), we can see the volume moving higher with the uptrend, supporting the upside move, and moving lower in pullbacks, which matches the typical interpretation of a volume indicator. The indicator also reflects a strong rising volume in the first phase or the first half of the upside move, and rising volume in the lateral part of the trend; however, not as strong as the initial ones.

​It's essential to note that Forex markets often experience reduced liquidity at certain times during the day and around holidays such as Christmas, New Year's, and Easter. This lower liquidity can impact the speed at which prices move, which is subsequently reflected in the tick volume.

Trading volume in the futures market represents the total number of futures contracts that have changed hands during a specific period. This metric is a crucial indicator of market activity and liquidity. High trading volume in futures suggests strong participation from traders and investors, indicating significant interest in a particular contract. This can lead to tighter bid-ask spreads and easier execution of large orders. Conversely, low volume might suggest a lack of interest, potentially leading to wider spreads and difficulty in entering or exiting positions. Analyzing volume alongside price action can help confirm trends; for instance, a strong uptrend accompanied by increasing volume often signifies strong conviction among buyers, while a downtrend accompanied by rising volume suggests significant selling pressure.

Open interest, unlike volume, refers to the total number of futures contracts that are outstanding and have not yet been closed out or delivered. It represents the total number of open positions (both long and short) at a particular point in time. While volume measures trading activity, open interest measures the level of market commitment and the flow of new money entering or leaving the market. An increasing open interest, especially when combined with rising prices, can confirm a bullish trend, indicating new money flowing into long positions. Conversely, a decrease in open interest with falling prices might suggest that traders are liquidating their long positions. Divergences between price and open interest can also signal potential trend reversals, making both volume and open interest essential tools for futures traders to gauge market strength and potential future price movements.

OBV is a momentum indicator that uses volume flow to predict price changes. It works on the principle that volume precedes price.

• How it works: It's a cumulative total of volume, where the day's volume is added when the price closes higher than the previous day and subtracted when the price closes lower.
• Application: Traders use OBV to confirm trends. A rising OBV indicates that volume is increasing on up days, which confirms a bullish trend. A declining OBV suggests that volume is higher on down days, confirming a bearish trend. Divergence between OBV and price can signal a potential reversal.

The above chart shows that the on-balance volume is in line with the price action (green lines), which was then followed by a negative divergence, as marked by the blue lines.

VWAP is a trading benchmark that represents the average price of a security over a specific period, weighted by the volume of trades.

• How it works: It's calculated by adding the dollar amount of all transactions and dividing it by the total volume for the day.
• Application: Primarily used by institutional traders and day traders, VWAP provides a measure of the average price at which a security has traded throughout the day. Traders often use it as a dynamic support or resistance level. A price above the VWAP may be considered for a long entry, while a price below it may be a short one.

The A/D line is a volume-based indicator that assesses whether a security is being accumulated (bought) or distributed (sold). It is commonly used as a market breadth indicator in the equity markets, and its calculations are based on the number of advances against declining stocks; it is widely considered a sentiment indicator. The calculations are different in FX trading. In the context of FX trading, the indicator measures money flow to determine whether a currency pair is being accumulated or distributed. The calculation incorporates multiple data points into the formula, including high, low, open, and close prices, as well as volume.

• How it works: It combines price and volume to measure the flow of money in and out of a security. It's similar to OBV, but also considers where the price closes within its high-to-low range for the period.
• Application: A rising A/D line suggests buying pressure (accumulation), while a falling A/D line indicates selling pressure (distribution). Like OBV, traders look for divergences between the A/D line and price to spot potential trend reversals.

The above chart illustrates a negative divergence in the EUR/USD price, where the currency pair was moving higher, but the move was not supported by the indicator, as it reflected a negative divergence. Eventually, the upside move did not last, and the price fell afterwards.

Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is a volume-based oscillator that measures the flow of money into and out of a security over a specific period, typically 20 or 21 days.

• How it works: It's based on the A/D line concept and helps determine if a security is under accumulation or distribution.
• Application: The CMF fluctuates above and below a zero line. A reading above zero suggests buying pressure, while a reading below zero indicates selling pressure. Traders use it to confirm the strength of a trend and identify potential buying or selling setups.

The above chart illustrates how the Chainkin Money Flow indicator reflected a negative divergence with price action, which was followed by a major price drop, marked by the diversions indicated by number one. The same chart also reflected when the indicator failed to signal a divergence, marked by number two on the above chart.

The MFI is a technical oscillator that uses both price and volume to measure buying and selling pressure.

• How it works: Similar to the Relative Strength Index (RSI), but incorporating volume, the MFI calculates a ratio of positive to negative money flow.
• Application: It oscillates between 0 and 100. Readings above 80 are considered overbought, and readings below 20 are considered oversold, which can signal a potential price reversal. Traders often look for divergences between the MFI and price to spot potential changes in momentum.

Unlike other indicators plotted as a single line, the volume profile is a horizontal histogram that displays the total volume traded at specific price levels over a given period.

• How it works: It visually represents trading activity at different price points, highlighting areas of high and low volume.
• Application: This tool is especially popular in futures and equities trading. It helps traders identify significant support and resistance levels, as well as areas of price consolidation. Key components include the Point of Control (POC), which is the price level with the highest volume, as well as High-Volume Nodes (HVN) and Low-Volume Nodes (LVN).

In conclusion, understanding volume is paramount for effective technical analysis, offering a deeper insight into market dynamics beyond just price action. While various volume indicators exist, each with its unique methodology, the core principle remains consistent: volume confirms trends and signals potential reversals. Traders must thoroughly understand the nuances of each indicator, acknowledging the challenges in certain markets, such as Forex, due to their OTC nature. By combining volume analysis with other indicators and being mindful of market-specific characteristics, traders can enhance their strategies and make more informed decisions, ultimately improving their ability to gauge market strength and anticipate future price movements.